Rudd Mayer Memorial Fellowships

Each year, Women of Wind Energy awards multiple fellowships to women college students or recent graduates to attend the annual American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) WINDPOWER conference. The fellowship honors wind industry pioneer Rudd Mayer of Boulder, Colorado, who passed away in 2002.

Rudd Mayer Memorial Fellowships support women to participate in the conference, attending seminars on current wind energy issues, viewing state-of-the-art technology, meeting women and men in the wind energy field, and connecting with employers about potential internships or permanent positions.

The fellowship is available to any woman who is a currently enrolled student or recent graduate of a college, university, or technical certificate program, and is interested in pursuing a career in the United States wind energy industry.

Rudd Mayer Fellows are selected based on demonstrated commitment to renewable energy development, academic achievement, and potential for future contributions to the U.S. wind energy community. For more information and to download an application form, see the document attachment at the bottom of this page.

WoWE Awards 2009 Rudd Mayer Fellowships to Seven Women

Seven women were introduced and applauded as Rudd Mayer Memorial Fellows this past May at the WoWE annual luncheon at WINDPOWER. Please join us in welcoming these accomplished young women:

Abigail Breazleale is currently finishing her Master's Degree at Northern Arizona University in Sustainable Energy Systems. Her thesis focuses on the use of computation fluid dynamics for micrositing of wind turbines. While at NAU, Abigail has participated in the installation of several metrological towers used for wind data collection. Abigail's goal is to obtain a position in the wind energy industry, which will allow her to apply her skills and further her experience in the wind industry field.

Anna Carlson has spent the last five years of her educational career studying supportive mechanisms for success in the wind energy sector. While pursuing her Masters at Bemidji State University she spent a semester abroad in Aalborg, Denmark where she participated in a "Talent Factory" workshop sponsored by the Danish Wind Energy Association. Anna is interested in pursuing a career in community based wind energy development.

Jessica Strauss has a degree in architecture from Cornell and will graduate from Yale University in May 2009 with her Masters of Business Administration. Her interest in energy grew out of her work on sustainability planning for buildings and property developments. Last summer, Jessica worked in the Wind Parts and Services sector of General Electric through its Renewable Energy Leadership Program. She wants to remain in the wind industry, advising clients on energy policies and how to include wind in their portfolio mix.

Kristen Radecsky is currently attending Humboldt State University to receive her Masters in Environmental Systems with a focus on renewable energy technologies. She is an active in her school's Renewable Energy Student Union, which won a grant to install a 30 m wind monitoring station and associated data processing software tools. In the summer of 2007, Kristen was in Guatemala doing research on small-scale wind turbine design and building low-cost anemometers. After graduation, she would like to work as a wind technician installing small-scale turbines for residential customers.

Myra Blaylock is a second year PhD graduate student in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering at the University of California, Davis. She is currently working on using computational fluid dynamics to explore active load control of wind turbine blades with Dr. Case van Dam. Myra's goals are stay in the field of research and development for the wind energy industry.

Sarah Russell-Smith has an undergraduate degree in Physics from Skidmore College and is currently enrolled at Stanford University where she is studying to receive her Masters in Atmosphere/Energy, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She is also the President of the Solar and Wind Energy Project; a group that strives to research and implement solar and wind energy in the Stanford area. Sara plans to continue on with her Ph.D. with a focus on integrating biocomposites into wind turbines.

Sherry LeDuc is working towards her Associates Degree in Wind Energy Technology from Cloud County Community College in Kansas. Sherry recently worked on a proposal for an educational grant for Native American Women and will be presenting her proposal to the Navajo Nation Tribal Council in Window Rock, Arizona, hoping to motivate other Native American Women into the wind energy profession.